“The Righteousness of God instructs us to dwell, seek, and stand on His Word. Bind them and hold them tight as you can, and never let go of God’s Commands.” (A Prayer of Hope)

The Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God and given to Moses as moral guidance for the people that God had chosen to present His righteous ways to the world. Although the Ten Commandments have not been fully implemented throughout the entire world, many people continue to teach and follow them as basic moral standards. While the removal of the Ten Commandment monuments from public display in government buildings and local parks in the early 2000s was somewhat disconcerting, most Christians and others have not deterred from considering God’s instructions as appropriate guidelines for human behavior.

Though many unbelieving people and even some Christians, consider the Ten Commandments obsolete and unnecessary, the New Testament mentions them, which means they are still relevant. Furthermore, the New Testament’s acknowledgement of the Ten Commandments infers they can be implemented through faith in Jesus Christ with guidance from the Holy Spirit of God, such as “Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with a promise;)” (Ephesians 6:2).

Imperatives

The Bible is an accumulation of historical events, poetic writings, prophetic insights, and wise teachings inspired by God. In countless verses, God provides His wisdom as instructions for the human soul (mind, will, emotions, and awareness) to maintain life on paths of righteousness. However, in many verses, God’s wise instructions are structured as imperative sentences that begins with a verb to command physical action such as “Go to the store” or “Clean up your room.”

Usually, imperative sentences are learned in elementary school as one of four types of sentence arrangements: declarative, interrogative/question, exclamation, and imperative/command. But in some Bible verses, imperative sentences begin with a conjunction such as “And” or the pronoun “Thou” followed by the word “shall” or after a dependent clause. But all are command sentences from God and consistent with His original Ten Commandments (Matthew 22:37-40). Similarly, as instructed in the first and second greatest commandments, moral guidance is provided for behaviors toward God, others, and self.

“And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

“Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:9-10).

Precepts and Statutes

God’s precepts and statutes are presented throughout the Bible as guidelines for conducting actions, behaviors, and ways in life also. The words ‘precepts’ and ‘statutes’ are written mainly in the Old Testament, but the intent of both words extend into the New Testament. God has not changed His moral guidelines. However, in this current era, God’s instructions are accessible for all who believe and have faith in Jesus Christ and guided by His Holy Spirit. How does that occur? The Bible holds the answer to the mystery.

“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts” (Psalms 119:45).

Precepts are general rules used to guide behaviors or conducts and thoughts (Oxford Dictionary; yourdictionary.com). General rules are given throughout life in various areas and situations such as living in parents’ home, accepting a new job, attending a college or university, or accessing the World-Wide Web. The requirements for participating at home, at work, in school, or on Internet websites are govern by codes and policies that encourage good conduct to ensure respect for others and oneself in an environment whether electronically or in person. Similarly, as codes of conduct are required in numerous areas in life’s situations, Bible precepts are codes for conducting the entire human experience while living on Earth accordingly as instructed by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end” (Psalms 119:33).

Statutes are rules for establishing overall boundaries that achieve specific goals for a whole population of people such as an entire corporation, household, or nation. Statutes are steps taken to keep everything and everyone orderly and running smoothly within the boundary. An example of statutes is the Preamble of the United States of America’s Constitution that aspires to unifying a whole nation according to set guidelines. If followed appropriately, divisions could possibly be nonexistent. Biblical statutes aspire to the unity God is encouraging for all who believe (Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8-9).

“And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

As God intended, according to His Word, biblical precepts and statutes are established through faith in Jesus Christ for maintaining righteous actions, behaviors, and ways appropriate for living a spiritual life.

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

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